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WELCOME BACK

Prevention

How We Can Help You

With a rare cancer like vulvar cancer, it is comforting to work with doctors who have experience treating this uncommon disease. At the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, your dedicated team is here for you, helping you make informed decisions and supporting you through treatment and beyond.

Tumor genomic profiling services to target the genetic fingerprint of hard-to-treat cancers using precision therapies available only through clinical trials.

Comprehensive support services, including care coordination, counseling, and nutrition services.

Comprehensive Care & Treatment for Vulvar Cancer

Our Gynecologic Cancer program is located in the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, a warm and welcoming care setting dedicated solely to treating gynecologic and breast cancer.

At the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, you work with doctors who are committed to understanding your condition and day-to-day life. Weekly Tumor Board meetings bring together experts from multiple disciplines to review cases that require more complex recommendations. We create advanced treatment options focused on treating cancer while minimizing the negative effects on the body and preserving your anatomy.

In the Stanford Gynecologic Cancer Program, we have learned that a less-is-more approach to treating vulvar cancer can be highly effective.

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Newly Diagnosed

Recurrent & Metastatic

Treatment & Wellness Care

The Stanford Gynecologic Cancer Program provides the highest level of personalized care, working closely with you to develop a treatment path that addresses your medical, physical, emotional, and social needs. Our goal with treatment is to cure vulvar cancer, while minimizing the effect of treatment on your body.

We are one of the few cancer centers with the ability to do sentinel lymph node mapping for vulvar cancer. This technique allows us to see if the cancer has spread, and if it has not, we will not remove lymph nodes unnecessarily.

Surgical Therapy

Our doctors use minimally invasive techniques to remove tumors and minimize the chance of the cancer coming back. Plastic surgery may be an option for vulvar reconstruction. Surgical therapies include:

Excision surgery: cancer cells and a small amount of normal-appearing skin around the cancer are removed.

Our radiation oncologists use advanced techniques to target optimal treatment doses to the vulva while limiting the exposure of nearby healthy tissue. If needed, radiation therapy for vulvar cancer is available:

Chemotherapy and radiation—a regimen of radiation therapy and low-dose chemotherapy given at the same time.

Treatment & Wellness Care

With an advanced-stage cancer, you want to know you have an experienced care team on your side. At Stanford Health Care, we look at each woman’s individual cancer to determine the best combination of therapies to give you the best chance of survival.

We draw from our advanced diagnosis options and scientific expertise to determine the most effective treatment for even the most complex cases. We might recommend combining multiple therapies to address your specific needs.

Surgical Therapy

Our doctors use minimally invasive techniques to surgically remove tumors and minimize the chance of the cancer coming back. Plastic surgery may be an option for vulvar reconstruction. Chemotherapy and radiation might be used before surgery to shrink the tumor to reduce the amount of tissue that needs removal.

Excision surgery: the cancer cells and a small amount of normal-appearing skin around the cancer are removed.

Vulvectomy: surgical removal of all or part of the vulva.

Radiation Oncology

Our radiation oncologists are experienced in treating vulvar cancer and use the most advanced techniques to target optimal treatment doses to the vulva, while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue.

Stanford experts are consistently on the forefront of drug development and chemotherapy options. Depending on the specific biology of your cancer, our doctors may discuss medical therapies with you, including:

Chemotherapy and radiation—a regimen of radiation therapy and low-dose chemotherapy given at the same time

Newly Diagnosed

Treatment & Wellness Care

The Stanford Gynecologic Cancer Program provides the highest level of personalized care, working closely with you to develop a treatment path that addresses your medical, physical, emotional, and social needs. Our goal with treatment is to cure vulvar cancer, while minimizing the effect of treatment on your body.

We are one of the few cancer centers with the ability to do sentinel lymph node mapping for vulvar cancer. This technique allows us to see if the cancer has spread, and if it has not, we will not remove lymph nodes unnecessarily.

Surgical Therapy

Our doctors use minimally invasive techniques to remove tumors and minimize the chance of the cancer coming back. Plastic surgery may be an option for vulvar reconstruction. Surgical therapies include:

Excision surgery: cancer cells and a small amount of normal-appearing skin around the cancer are removed.

Our radiation oncologists use advanced techniques to target optimal treatment doses to the vulva while limiting the exposure of nearby healthy tissue. If needed, radiation therapy for vulvar cancer is available:

Chemotherapy and radiation—a regimen of radiation therapy and low-dose chemotherapy given at the same time.

close Newly Diagnosed

Recurrent & Metastatic

Treatment & Wellness Care

With an advanced-stage cancer, you want to know you have an experienced care team on your side. At Stanford Health Care, we look at each woman’s individual cancer to determine the best combination of therapies to give you the best chance of survival.

We draw from our advanced diagnosis options and scientific expertise to determine the most effective treatment for even the most complex cases. We might recommend combining multiple therapies to address your specific needs.

Surgical Therapy

Our doctors use minimally invasive techniques to surgically remove tumors and minimize the chance of the cancer coming back. Plastic surgery may be an option for vulvar reconstruction. Chemotherapy and radiation might be used before surgery to shrink the tumor to reduce the amount of tissue that needs removal.

Excision surgery: the cancer cells and a small amount of normal-appearing skin around the cancer are removed.

Vulvectomy: surgical removal of all or part of the vulva.

Radiation Oncology

Our radiation oncologists are experienced in treating vulvar cancer and use the most advanced techniques to target optimal treatment doses to the vulva, while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue.

Stanford experts are consistently on the forefront of drug development and chemotherapy options. Depending on the specific biology of your cancer, our doctors may discuss medical therapies with you, including:

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

To learn more about the clinical trials we offer, contact Pei-Jen Chang peijenc@stanford.edu at 650-723-3931.

Yes, Stanford Health Care offers financial assistance for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Meet with one of our financial counselors to find the best approach to paying for your health care. Financial counselors are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Learn more about financial assistance services »

What gynecologic cancer support services are available?

We offer a number of support services to support your comfort and healing, including genetic counseling, interpreter services, support groups, wig bank, nurse navigators, nutrition services, pain management, fertility preservation, financial counseling, and a variety of classes and events.

To develop a personalized plan for supportive care, just call our Pathwell Program. A trained Pathwell nurse coordinator can help assess your needs and schedule the right combination of services for you and your family. Learn more about the Pathwell Support Program »

Do I need a doctor referral to be seen at the Stanford Gynecologic Cancer Program?

You can call the clinic directly to schedule an appointment with a Stanford Health Care doctor. Call 650-468-6000 to make an appointment.

Managing treatment for gynecologic cancer is a highly personalized process. Our care team guides you every step of the way. To help you prepare for your first appointment, review the Patient Family Resource Guide for helpful information, including:

For your first appointment, you should plan to bring any related test results and your medical history to share with your doctor. In addition to the following New Patient Appointment Letter, our clinic receptionists will confirm the information you should bring with you prior to your first appointment.

Most of our locations offer convenient valet and self-parking options. See the Patient Family Resource Guide for information on parking validation and fees. For assistance getting to your appointment, the staff at Stanford Cancer Navigation Services are here to help. Please call 650-723-4268.

We recommend you allow enough time to park to ensure you arrive on time. Due to construction near the main hospital campus, please plan to arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to your appointment time at our Palo Alto location. This will allow you plenty of time to park, locate your clinic and complete any additional paperwork.

How do I send my medical record to SHC?

Please print, fill out, and return the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care.

Can my family member or friend attend my appointment?

Always feel free to bring someone with you to your appointments. A family member or friend can help ask questions, remember the information your care team gives you, and provide support. To help you or your loved one prepare, view our Patient Family Resource Guide.

Can I record my discussion with my doctor during my appointment?

By California state law, you must let your care team know that you would like to record your conversation if you would like help remembering your discussion with your care team.

What is the best way to get all my questions answered during my appointment?

Write down your questions before your appointment and rank them in order of importance, beginning with the most important ones. If there isn’t enough time to have all your questions answered during your appointment, ask your doctor who you can speak with to get your other questions answered.

Are translator services available?

Spanish interpreters are on the premises 24/7 for the Hospital and for the Emergency Department. Interpreters for other languages are on the premises during clinic business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday: American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian and Vietnamese. For more information, go to Interpreter Service

Current Patients

What support resources are available to me?

We offer a number of support services to support your comfort and healing before, during and after treatment, including genetic counseling, interpreter services, support groups, wig bank, nurse navigators, nutrition services, pain management, fertility preservation, financial counseling, and a variety of classes and events.

To develop a personalized support plan, just call our Pathwell Program. A trained Pathwell nurse coordinator can help assess your needs and schedule the right combination of services for you and your family. Learn more about the Pathwell Support Program »

How do I cancel or reschedule my appointment?

Please call our clinic receptionists who are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., to help you reschedule or cancel your appointment:

Spanish interpreters are on the premises 24/7 for the Hospital and for the Emergency Department. Interpreters for other languages are on the premises during clinic business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday: American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian and Vietnamese. For more information, go to Interpreter Service

International Patients

I live overseas. How do I access Stanford care?

Many of our programs are available to international patients.

Our International Medicine Services team can help you find the right doctor, estimate medical costs, book travel, and get you information about Stanford programs and services.

What Is Vulvar Cancer?

Prevention of Vulvar Cancer

The cause of vulvar cancer is not known at this time, however, certain risk factors are suspected as contributors to the development of the disease. Suggestions for prevention include:

Avoid known risk factors when possible

Delay onset of sexual activity

Use condoms. Research shows that condoms may protect against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases that are transmitted through body fluids. However, condoms will not protect against infection with HPV since this infection is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact

Our Clinics

The Stanford Gynecologic Cancer Program provides expert treatment for cervical, ovarian, endometrial, and other reproductive cancers. Located in the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, our program provides personalized treatment and comprehensive support.